Awards and Accolades

MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION - ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REPORT

The annual performance report (APR) is a snapshot of how Missouri public school districts and charter schools are performing. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) grades districts based on five categories — academic achievement, subgroup achievement, college and career readiness, attendance and graduation rates. For the last two years, the Ewing Marion Kauffman School achieved all 14 points for a 100 percent performance score.

2017 - 100% APR
2016 - 100% APR

LATINX EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE TEACHER OF THE YEAR

High school Spanish teacher Daniel Velazquez was awarded the 2019-2020 Latinx Teacher of the Year, a recognition program sponsored by the Latinx Education Collaborative. Recognized for his advocacy, fellowship, commitment to equity and inclusion, Mr. Velazquez accepted the award surrounded by several team members at the Kauffman School who nominated him. Fellow teacher Lucero Valderrama was also nominated and recognized as a nominee at this event.

RELAY/GSE LEVERAGE LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE - 2017 PLATINUM SCHOOL AWARD

The Relay program believes that becoming a great teacher or principal is much like becoming a great musician or doctor. It takes continuous practice, feedback, and dedication. Relay gives graduate students unparalleled opportunities not only to learn the techniques that will make them more effective, but also to practice them with faculty and peers. The feedback they receive helps them refine their practice until they’re ready to perform with confidence in the classroom. Graduate students emerge with the skills needed to embark on a career as a transformational educator, and prepared to impact thousands of children. The Relay program awarded Kauffman School as a Platinum School among its many school partners based on metrics around excellence in instruction, adult culture, and teacher/student relationships.

PROFILE_Hannah_Lofthus

MISSOURI CHARTER PUBLIC SCHOOL ASSOCIATION - CHARTER SCHOOL OF THE YEAR

The Missouri Charter Public School Association (MCPSA) named Kauffman School its 2015 Missouri Charter School of the Year, citing its "strong academic performance," "innovative professional development" and "daily efforts to build community and engage parents." Executive director of the MCPSA, Douglas Thaman, said, "Kauffman understands the academic bars their students must meet, however, they also acknowledge the personal characteristics research shows are equally important to model and teach."

ACCELERATE INSTITUTE - THE RYAN FELLOWSHIP (Hannah Lofthus)
Accelerate Institute partners with schools and CMOs in the Ryan Fellowship regions to identify, develop, and support aspiring school principals through a rigorous three-year program. Ryan Fellows learn how to lead a successful school through the objectives of the Accelerate Framework: Change Management, High-Performing Team, Constructive Environment, Aspirational Environment, Data-Driven Culture, and Black Belt Teaching. They also receive individualized Advisory as they strengthen and develop the leadership skills and characteristics of transformational school leaders.

During the Fellowship Year (Year 1) Ryan Fellows complete a 4-week Summer Institute in Chicago and then spend the academic year completing their Field Study (residency) in their region where they have the opportunity to practice, plan, and prepare for school leadership. Once Fellows successfully complete Year 1 and begin their careers as principals, they receive two additional years of customized Advisory and support to ensure their success and the dramatic acceleration of student achievement.

The Ryan Award is given every year to an urban school principal who has demonstrated accelerated results in underserved schools over a minimum of four years and served a sizable percentage of urban, low-income and minority students. Founding Principal and CEO, Hannah Lofthus, received the 2016 Ryan Award.

TEACH FOR AMERICA - SCHOOLS TO LEARN FROM AWARD

Teach For America believes that an excellent education can ensure that a child has the opportunity to succeed in college and in life. Education fulfills this promise when students gain strong academic skills and knowledge, grow personally, develop social, political, and cultural consciousness, and gain access to opportunities in ways that are aligned with their own strengths, interests, and values. Annually, the Schools To Learn From (STLF) program highlights four schools that are providing an excellent education for their students. Once selected, the four schools act as learning laboratories for educators by hosting visits and facilitating professional development to enable others to implement strategies and best practices in their own schools. The Ewing Marion Kauffman School was a 2017 STLF honoree.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI KANSAS CITY - THE BILL FRENCH ALUMNI SERVICE AWARD
Hannah Lofthus is the founder and chief executive officer of the Ewing Marion Kauffman School and a committed member of the UMKC and Kansas City community. Her service to her alma mater began while she was an undergraduate student and member of the Honors College; she co-founded the service-learning program and founded a partnership with a local charter school to provide opportunities for Honors students to serve their community. This community partnership still exists today at the Kauffman School where 180 UMKC students have volunteered since the program's inception. In 2010, Lofthus founded the Kauffman School with the mission of "creating college graduates." The founding class of fifth graders entered the school in the bottom third of the state on fourth grade math and reading state exams. Four years later, their results ranked number one in the state of Missouri. Lofthus led the Kauffman School to state recognition: It was named the 2015 Missouri Charter School of the Year and earned a 100 percent Annual Performance Rating from the state the past two years, as well as national acclaim, achieving the Platinum Rating from the Leverage Leadership Institute and RELAY Graduate School of Education. The school was also named a 2017 "School to Learn From" by Teach for America. Lofthus was inducted into the Mid-America Education Hall of Fame in 2015 and received the Accelerate Institute's Ryan Award for transformational school leadership in 2016.